Interview: Upcoming free-to-play mech game Mecha BREAK will not be “Pay to Win,”  producer promises

Anticipation has been building around the upcoming mech-piloting action game Mecha BREAK. Coming to PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, Mecha BREAK is an online battle game in which you control humanoid mechs called MBs (Mecha Breaks) and fight co-op battles. The game is still in development, but seems to be on track, with a closed beta test scheduled to open this month. Mecha BREAK is being developed and published by Amazing Seasun Games. The producer has revealed that he is a big fan of mech games and anime such as the Armored Core and Gundam series. This influence and attention to detail can be felt throughout the game, from the environments to the mechs themselves. 

Recently, a press event was held for the in-development game, which offered the opportunity to try its online mode. Mecha BREAK’s producer Kris Kwok also gave interviews to the media at the event. Below is a summary of his answers, which reveals what we can expect from this anticipated mech game. 

── Could you tell us about the history of Mecha BREAK’s development? 

Kris Kwok: The game’s development started in November 2021, but before that, we had tried to get the project off the ground four times and failed. The first time was in 2015, the second and third times were from 2016 to 2017, and the fourth attempt was in 2018. Finally, in 2021, we established Mecha BREAK’s current direction. This period of almost 10 years has been a big challenge for all members of the team. We spent our days learning from sci-fi and mecha experts, trying to work with other studios to secure development resources, and continuing to polish the game until it met our ideal.      

── What is Mecha BREAK’s selling point? 

It’s “Strength! Speed! and Firepower!*” The “power” felt from the vibrations of lightsabers clashing in close-quarters combat. The “speed” of flying at full throttle into the vast sky. The “firepower” of the various beam cannons and firearms, their thunderous roar resounding over the whole battlefield. These are the appealing aspects of mechs that we want to provide in our game.   

(*Later becoming the official catchphrase “Blitz. Brawl. Blaze.”)

──Was there an aspect of Mecha BREAK that you paid special attention to? 

The modeling of the mechs, including the MBs. For our mechs, we are aiming to create “industrial designs rooted in military realism.” Take the armor, for example – we designed them while taking sheet metal cutting techniques and unit maintenance into consideration. It’s the same for the mechs’ skeletal structures. There are many humanoid mechs in the game, but naturally, their skeletons are different from those of humans. 

Humans wear soft clothing over their bodies and move smoothly, but mechs’ are covered in hard sheet metal. In order to make the mechs move fluently, we had to add in a number of auxiliary skeletons to support the movement of each piece of sheet metal. If we had simply overlapped pieces of sheet metal, it wouldn’t have satisfied the players’ expectations. 

──Were there any titles that influenced the development of Mecha BREAK? 

Gundam, specifically my favorite seasons UC, Z and ZZ. I am confident in my knowledge of Gundam, if I do say so myself. Ever since I was a child, I have continued to keep up with anime and plastic model kits. As for games, I’d first like to mention the Super Robot Wars series. I have played almost all of the titles right up to the latest release. Next is the Armored Core series. This series was my introduction to PvE (Player vs Environment) mech battle games, and I have dreamt of making a mech game ever since I played it. Many of our team have similar experiences like this, and they are very passionate about the fine details, movements and designs of mechs.   

──Will Mecha BREAK give us an in-depth look at its world and the mech pilots? 

We want to develop Mecha BREAK as a story about humanity reconsidering the value of life. The game is set in the near future, in a world that uses an intelligent energy source called EIC. This energy source has enabled people to push the limit of what mechs can do by using their brains as processing devices. The game also depicts the coexistence of carbon-based lifeforms and silicon-based lifeforms, and the conflicts between them. These depictions will add depth to the game’s world and each pilot, providing players with an epic story set against the backdrop of an expansive universe.   

──Please tell us about the Mashmak mode and how you plan to balance it. 

Mashmak is a battle royale mode where a maximum of 60 people can battle it out, with six players on each team. There are many other games in this genre, however, we have introduced PvE elements to reduce the pressure of head-to-head confrontation between players. The game field contains bases where enemies lurk, as well as boss mechs. The player works together with their teammates to defeat these enemies and strengthen their mech. Only then do they battle against other players. Also, by strengthening your mech, you will be able to enjoy piloting a mech that behaves differently to those in the game’s other modes. 

Player feedback is very important to us. We would be happy to hear your opinions on the game. 

──What is Mecha BREAK’s monetization strategy? 

We are still developing and adjusting our monetization model based on test results and player feedback, so we haven’t finalized it yet. Our policy is that Mecha BREAK should be a fair, competitive game, not “pay to win.” The only thing distinguishing players in the game should be their skill level. We strive to give players a burden-free gameplay environment based on the principles of fairness and equality, so that everyone can enjoy the mechs to their heart’s content.  

──What kind of feedback have you received about Mecha BREAK so far? 

We received positive feedback during the alpha test, which gave the team a confidence boost. Japanese players in particular rated Mecha BREAK highly. We are absorbing the feedback and suggestions from players in different regions so we can provide them with an even better experience during the beta test. 

──When is Mecha BREAK likely to be released? 

At the moment, I can’t give you a specific date, but we are aiming for this year. We will continue to receive feedback from players through intermittent testing and announce the release date when we are ready.  

──Lastly, do you have a message to the players who are looking forward to Mecha BREAK’s release?  

Thank you very much for showing your support and love for Mecha BREAK. We will turn your support into strength and continue to work hard on development and production so that we can bring you a high-quality game as soon as possible. 

──Thank you very much. 

Mecha BREAK’s beta testing is scheduled to start in April. If you are interested, please check out the following links:  
Beta tester application form 

Steam store page 

Official Site 

Official X (formerly Twitter) account 

Official Discord 

Translated by. Verity Townsend (original interview in Japanese can be found on Automaton Japan, our sister site).